Autopneumatic music-playing instrument.



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No. 893,710. I I PATENTED JULY 21, 1908;, W. R. ORIPPEN.

AUTOPNEUMATIG MUSIC PLAYINGINSTRUMEN'TL APPLIOATION FILED JULY 11, 19071 4 QHEETS-QHEET 1.

'e QQQ X I I Y Y MW PATENTED JULY 21, 1908.

W. R. ORIPPEN. \AUTOPNBUMATIG MUSIG PLAYING INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 11, 190?\ 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2..

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PATENTED JULY 21, 1908.

W. R. GRIPPEN. AUTOPNBUMATIG MUSIC PLAYING INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 11, 1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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AK' M 1%(893310. PATENTED JULY 21, 1908.

WQR. GRIP PEN. AUTOPNEUMATIG s10 PLAYING TRUMENT. APPLIO FILED JULY 11, 1

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'lU- FRED MOURE, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSAOHUSETTS.

- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 21, 1908.

Application filediuly 11, 1907. Serial No. 383,180.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVALTER. RCRIPPEN, a citizen'of the United States, residing at Cambridge, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusctts, have invented certain new and useful lnu'n'ovements in Autopneumatic Music- Playing Instruments, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in auto-pneumatic music players, the object being to provide a simple, compact, durable and c'llicient construction.

Heretofore piano-players, so-called, have been ordinarily in the form of cabinets, which are placed ini'ront of-the piano with an overstanding portion located above the case: in this construction the cabinet projects well in front of the instrument and occu ies very considerable space. When this ca inet is not in use and is moved aside, it is still necessary to provide storage space which, in many instances, it is diilicult to spare. 1

By my invention a minimum of storage space is required and no extra space whatever is occupied in front of the piano, the seat being arranged in its customary place and the position of the o erator being the same as though no piano-p ayer were present. In this and in many other respects the invention will be seen. to possess many advan tages.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents the front of the piano, the top being broken away, the player being shown in place as it would appear when ready for use; Fig. 2 is a side elevation, mainly in section; Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a diii'erent section through the action, and showing parts not illustrated in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a relatively enlarged cross section through the action and associated parts.

1 represents a piano case, exposing the usual keyboard and keys.

2 represents a bench-like seat in the form of a small cabinet, the forward part of which is hinged, as. at 3, to close back when the piano-player is not in use, but at other times to swing down and form a platform or forward extension and support for one or more foot pedals 4. Each foot pedal 4 is connected} as by a hinge linii 5, to the exhausterbellows 6, the same being located entirely within the cabinet-bench 2, and being provided with the usual spring 7 to work against the action of the pedal 4.

8 is a spring-distended equalizer bellows of any suitable form, also inclosed within the cabinet-bench, which serves as a container therefor.

9 is a wind-way leading to a head 9 to which is suitably connected an external wind-way extension 9*, leading to the space 9 'of the action chest or container 10. usual governor (not shown) is provided in the course of the wind-way leading to space 9. .Within the container 10 is any suitable action mechanism; including action pneumatics 11l 1., arranged to control hammers l212, adapted to the keys of the instrument.

14 is the tracker-board, form.

15 is a.note sheet arranged to traverse the tracker-board 14, and mounted on rolls 15 of conventional The 15, which latter may be driven by any suitable form of motor Well known in this art.

Since the particular form of action mechanism shown is immaterial to this invention, it is unnecessary to describe the same in detail.

16 represents one of the piano pedals, and 17 is a pneumatic for controlling the same. This pneumatic has a removable extension .17, whereby, when removed. the hinged front 3 may be folded up so as to completely inclose and protect the equalizer, feedbellows and associated parts. The external rind-way extension 9 may be a flexible hose, which may be easily attached to or detached from said action 10. When detached it may be stored within the cabinet-bench 2. The action 10 may be suilicicntly long, or may have extensions adapted to rest upon the key-bldcks 18-18, or upon some adjacent stationary part suitable to support said action. By means of clamps lS--1-, or

equivalent devices, the action ll) may be firmly secured to the key-board of a piano so as to bring the several hammers l2--12 n the proper position relatively to thcirrcspoctive keys. 7 I

From the foregoing, it will be soon that when it .is desired to play the piano automatically, it is niereiy necessary to open the forward side of the cabinct-bcnch 3, sons to throw the front 3 down into the proper position, indicated in Figs. 9 and 3. This amolob matically brings the pedals 4 into proper position, inclining upward and away from the operator, so that the operator sitting on the cabinet-bench may readily use the same. The shifting of bench 2 will not disturb the relative position of the pedals 4, because they are carried by and move with said bench.

19 is a suitable latch which serves to hold the hinged front 3 in place when closed.

. 20 is a ioot which may be carried by the front 3 to support it at the proper elevation when open. hen the front 3 has been opened, the flexible tubularconnection 9 may be taken out and applied to the action 10, the same having first been secured in place over the key-board. By then putting a suitable roll of music in place, the instrument may be operated.

The pedal control is best seen in Fig. 3, in Which a button 21 is provided for manual operation to open the valve 22, which, in turn, through a small duct 23, operates a primary duct 23 to actuate a valve to .put the pedal pneumatic 17 in communication with the vacuum, thus collapsing the latter and operating the pedal 16) through the extension 17".- The duct 23 is preferably lo: cated inside of the wind-way extension 9", suitable fittings being provided to permit of the simple arrangement.

It will be seen that the bulky part ofthe apparatus, to wit, the exhaust-er and equalizer-bellows and associated parts, are comactlv housed in. the cabinet-bench which is i at all times valuable as the usual piano seat;

hence the only part of the apparatus requiring space for storage is the action chest, which may be quickly removed and easily stored in any convenient place, for example, on top of, or at the end of, a piano, as desired, the siune occupying very little room.

' These instruments may be used with either ianos or organs, although in the drawing 1 ave shown the apparatus applied to a piano.

. What I claim is,

1. In an ap aratus of the character described, a keyaoard, an action, a support for.

said action adjacent to and above the e'xposed portion of the key-board, means for exhausting air, a cabinet therefor separate from and independent of the action, and a detachable wind-Way connection between said exhauster means and said action. V

v2. in an apparatus of the character desciibed, a key-board, means including an action container, action pneumatics the am, said parts being arranged to be detachably supported by said key-board, an exhauster container independent of the action container and supported independently of the p1anc,'an.exhauster therein, a d a detach-- I 1 able connection from one to the other.

3. In an auto-pneumaticmusic playing seams device, an action, means for detachably mounting the same in operative position above and adjacent to the exposed portion of a piano key-board, a cabinet-bench independent thereof, an exhauster in said bench, and flexible detachable means of connection from said exhauster to said action.

4;. In a device of the cl'iaraeter described, keys, an inclosed action supported above and adjacent to said keys, an exhauster and a supporttherefor movable independently of said action support, of connection leading from said exhauster to said action inclosure.

5. In a devicefio'f the character described, keys, an action supported above and adjacent to said keys, an exhauster and a support therefor movable independently of said action support, and detachable means of connection leading from said exhauster to said action.

6. In a device of the character described, a piano having a keyboard. and end keyblocks, action mechanism, a container there; for detachably mounted at its ends on said key-blocks and above the keys, an exhauster supported. by and movable independently of the piano keyboard and action, and a detachable wind-way operatively connecting the exhauster with the action mechanism.

' 7. Inan auto-pneumatic mus c playing instrument, an action container, action mech anism including action Pneumatics and selecting mechanism therefor carried thereby and operating through the bottom thereof, an exhauster, a container therefor, movable independently hauste'r pedals carried by and movable with the ezihauster container, and a wind-way connectionbetween said exhauster and action.

In an auto-pneumatic music playing instrument, an action container, action pneumaticshammers operating through the bo tom thereof, and anote-sheet Winding mechanism carried by said action container, an exhauster container movable independently of the action container, an exhauster therein, and a wind-way connection between said exhauster and action.

9. 111 3411 auto-pneumatic music playing in-- strument, an action container, actionpneu maticsan'dhammers carried thereby, an ex hauster, a container therefor movable independently of said action container, a piano pedabactuating pneumatic mounted inde endently of the actibn container, a win -way connection between the exhauster and said pedal neumatic, exhauster pedals carried by said exhaustor container, said pedals being operatively connected with said exhauster.

10. In an auto pneumaticmusic playing instrument, an action including action pneumatics, hammers operated thereby, an. e.\'.

and detachable means.

ating pneumaticsv carried-thereby, an 6X' hauster movable independently of said action, a detachable wind-way connection be-' tween said exhauster and. action, a-cabinetbench carrying said exhauste'r, a hinged part onsaid bench, and pedals carried by said hinged part and operatively' connected with said exhauster when said hinged part is in one position relatively to said bench.

' 11. In an auto-pneumatic music playing instrument, an action container having keyactuating ,pneumatics therein, a support.

therefor, an 'exhauster, a support therefor independentor" said action support, a pedal actuating pneumatic '1 carried by said exhausterflsupport, and means .of connection between said exhauster and said pedal-actuating f pneumatic and said key-actuating pneumatics. 1

12. In annautoepneumati'c music playing instrument, an action container, a support therefor, an exhauster operatively connected with said action container, a support for,

said exhauster inde endent-' of.=the action support, apiano pe al-actuating pneumatic carried by the exhauster support, means of connection between said exhauster and said pedal-actuating pneumatic, and means carried by the action container for controlling the momentof operation-of the pedal-actu ating pneumatic; a

13. In an autopneumatic music playing instrument, an action container, keyactuhauster, a support therefor, a pedal-actuating pneumatic carried by saidsupport, said support, exhauster and pedal actuat ng pneumatic being movable independently of said action container, and means "for con.

trolling-the moment of operation of the keyactuating pneumatics and the pedalactumg carried by said action container.-

14. In a piano-playing instrument,'action' apparatus arranged to be detachably mounted on a piano above the key-boardthereof,

pedals carried by said hinged front and operatively connected with said exhauster.

16. In a piano playing instrument, action apparatus arranged to be detachably supported on. a piano and above the keyboard thereof, exhauster apparatus arranged to be supported independently of the piano, do tachablc means of connection between the ating pneumatic, said controllingmeans be exhauster apparatus and the action apparatus, exhauster pedals, a folding support for said eXhauster pedals.

17. In a piano-playing instrument, action apparatus arranged to be detachably supported on a piano, and including hammers to act on theupper side of the key-board thereof, exhauster apparatus and means for supporting the same independently of said action apparatus, eXhauster pedals, a hinged support for said exhauster pedals, said hinged support being connected to said exhauster' support, and means of connection between said exhauster pedals and said exhauster to permit said hinged support to be moved.

18. In an apparatus of'the character described, an action container, action mechanism'therein including hammers projecting through the lower side thereof, an exhauster, a support therefor independent of said action container, and a tubular connection leading rom said exhauster to said container. 19. In a piano-playing instrument, action apparatus arranged to be detachably connected to and supported on a piano, cxhauster apparatus and means for supporting the same independentl of said action apparatus, exhauster pedals, a hinged support for said exhauster pedals, said hinged support being connected to said exhauster support, means o o. i do of connection between said eXhauster pedals and-said'exhauster to permit vsaid hinged support to be moved, and a piano-pedal actuator carriedby the hinged part of said exha'uster support.

20.; In a piano playing instrument, an acvtlonarranged to be detachably supported above the piano.-keyboard', a bench independent of the piano, an exhauster in said cabinet bench; a wind-way operatively connesting said vexhauster with said action, a hinged pedal support carriedby said bench, and pedals hinged on said support and operavtively' connected with said exhauster.

21'. .In a piano playing instrument, action mechanism arranged to operate directly upon the piano keys and being detachably carried by the piano, a bench, an exhauster carried by said bench, a wind-way connection from said exhauster to said action mechanism, a

movable pedal support carried by said bench, pedals hinged to said support, and connections between said pedals and said exhausterr 221 In a playing apparatus, for pianos, ac tron mechanism arranged to operate directly upon the keys of such an instrumentand being detachably carried by suchinstrument,

a bench, an exhauster carried by said bench, a windway connection from said exhauster to saidiaction mechanism, a movable pedal support'carried by said bench, pedals hinged to said support, connections between said pedals and said exhauster, a piano pedal pneumatic carriedby said bench, and a wind Way from said oxhnusfer to said mnunmtiu V 23. In :1 playing apparatus fox" pianc, action 1n eclnmis1n arrange?! to operate directly upon ,ih'c keys of such, an instrument and being detn-chab'ly a bencinnn exl'nnlster carried: 1' y said bench, a. wnd-Way connectimi from said exhaus m: to and action mechanism, a nun gable pedal support carried by said b nch, pednis'hinged to .sa-iil support, connections aetwe-sn sai'cl c'arried by such instrument,

edalsand said exhautclg 1) plans pedal neumatxc carried 1 said benah, a windj-wav v I from said exhausr to said piano pedal. pneunmtic, and means um'riedby the action support 01 contmliing the moment of nperabion ofsaid piano pedal pneumatic.

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